by Lorraine Monfils
Doing the right thing isn’t always that easy. For some people it just comes naturally and for others if it is an inconvenience it is easier to just not do anything.
The story I am about to tell you is about an individual doing the right thing and going the extra mile. She didn’t have to think twice about it she just dove in head first and made a split-second decision to make a difference. It was not in her make up to just walk away and ignore the problem, she felt an obligation to help a tiny gray ball of fluff, simply because it was the right thing to do.
As you all know we have been experiencing some pretty cold nights. There have been nights where it has been minus-20 degrees. Way too cold for anyone or anything to be outside for any period of time. We as humans find ourselves starting our cars 10 minutes early so it will be warm when we leave, or we turn up the dial on the electric blanket so we can stay nice and warm, add more wood or pellets to the stove when we start to get cold. Sadly animals left out in the cold do not have this luxury These animals look for the smallest holes to crawl into to try and stay warm. Cats look for food and shelter wherever they can find it.
A few weeks ago I received a phone call from a woman who had rescued a gray kitten. The kitten had eye infections, upper respiratory and frostbite. The lady had taken the kitten to the vet where it was put on meds and sent home with her. She was already at her limit with cats and could not keep her. She was just heartbroken because she had become attached to her, while she had been caring for her. After speaking with her we agreed to take the kitten and she agreed to help with the expense of getting her spayed. Keep in mind this was not her kitten and she was not obligated to pay for anything but again, this was something that she did not hesitate to do, because in her mind it was the right thing to do for the kitten,
The kitten was delivered to the Sanctuary one Friday evening by her foster mom. It was an emotional goodbye; you could tell that she truly cared for the little kitten. She suggested that we name her Belle, because she liked to play with Bells. And so Belle it was. I could tell that Belle had been loved and cared for very well by this woman. She purred and kneaded the whole time I held her. She did not fight one bit when we medicated her and gave her sterile eye washes. She seemed to enjoy it all.
Belle has some permanent scars from her ordeal, but other than that she is doing well. She lost the tip of one ear to frostbite and she has one eye that is not completely normal, but she is one of the most beautiful kittens I have ever seen. Belle is beautiful on the inside as well as the outside just like the woman who rescued her. The woman that rescued Belle touched my heart. In a world where there is so much sadness and cruelty to animals, just when we least expect it stories like this remind us that there is good in the world.
Once Belle has been given a clean bill of health she will officially be up for adoption. If you are looking for a real happy cuddly cat, Belle is the one for you. I am hoping that everyone takes away something away from this story. If you see an animal in need of help don’t turn your back and walk away. Do the right thing and help. Make a difference.
I am almost certain that the woman that rescued Belle is an angel; she certainly has earned her wings. Thank you for your continued support and as always thank you for reading our column.
